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Join in!
I am hosting a private server for folks interested in playing on this map in 1.6.2 SMP and helping me develop it further. If you're interested in participating, check out the server link and send me a PM.

A generation ago, the greatest explorer of his time, Sir Auran Cobble, ventured across the great ocean of Tethys AEterna to the continent of Ultima and the smaller lands on its periphery. He did not return alive from this journey, but his companions did and they brought with them thrilling accounts of a virgin territory rich with resources and ripe for settlement. You are one of the first to answer the call to follow in Sir Cobble's footsteps. Beyond the sea, in the wide ranges of the Terra Extrema you may build your glorious destiny... or meet your ignominious fate. Good luck and gods speed you on your way.

What this is:

• A hand-crafted 14,000 x 14,000 block survival/adventure map based on real world geography
  
• Plausibly realistic terrain featuring exactly zero sky islands
  
• 25 customized biomes including arctic shores, vast tundra, mountain lakes, dense forests, snaking rivers, wind-swept savanna and more; custom vegetation includes many varieties of large and very large trees from lentbriesje's Custom Tree Repository
  
  
• Extensive natural chasms and caverns beneath the surface
  
• "Sweet spot" resource distribution encouraging scarcity, exploration, specialization, and trade for a new and demanding multiplayer challenge without the need for additional mods or plugins
  
• Best experienced using a resource pack that increases the contrast between stone, cobblestone, and gravel over default (my personal favorite is John Smith Legacy)
  
  

What this is not:

• Quite finished yet; stay tuned for the Second Wave and, if you're an interested and mature player who likes this kind of map, contact me about helping debug and develop it by participating on my SMP server
  

Overview

This is the first release-ready edition of my large custom map project: Terra Extrema. It consists of a completely hand-crafted map measuring around 14000x14000 blocks at its furthest extremes. For those who would rather discover it on their own, the full map was omitted from the slideshow above. You can view the full thematic map here, and an overhead MCAMap render (approx. 3.5:1 scale) is available here. Beyond the regions shown, the world is a superflat ocean.

Creation Process

The map began with heightmaps taken from real world geographic data that were then shaped using WorldPainter, VoxelSniper, and WorldEdit to reach its current state. Within you will find 25 customized biomes, some that will seem familiar and some that are quite different from anything in vanilla Minecraft. The guiding principle of worldbuilding used throughout was to evoke a sense of plausibly realistic terrain that still "feels" like Minecraft and works within the limits of the Minecraft engine.

Resource Scarcity

First of all, ores and other non-renewables are ultimate finite as beyond the custom terrain you will find only an endless ocean. Within the map, both surface and subterranean resources are distributed in "sweet spots", meaning you won't be able to find everything in one place. In fact, you will only be able to find one or two types of resources in any given biome. A great deal of exploration may be necessary to uncover all of the riches you seek. While widely spread, however, ores of all types can be found much nearer to the surface in the regions where they are prevalent. Accordingly, this map is intended primarily for use on SMP servers, where resource isolation will encourage and reinforce a rudimentary economy and reward specialization. Both cooperation and competition could prove to be the keys to success!

Currently, I am releasing the map for anyone to try out and enjoy, but I will also host it on my own SMP server for a small group of interested beta testers. My intent is to continue to develop the map in preparation for a "Second Wave" release that will include not only small-scale fixes but also substantial content additions in the form of hand-built ruins, caverns, and underground structures.

I am open to all comments and criticisms. If you find something while playing on this map that struck you as really fantastic or not quite as good as it could be, please let me know! I hope to continue development for some time and would really appreciate your input.